Pipia: Duathlon broadens athletes' horizons

It's a common sight on our local roads: runners and cyclists pursuing their passion while enjoying the Hudson Valley.

It's a common sight on our local roads: runners and cyclists pursuing their passion while enjoying the Hudson Valley.

Some are dedicated to lacing up their sneakers to stay fit, while others prefer pedaling a bike. New Paltz's Greg Sautner, a professional triathlete and triathlon coach, would like to see more locals doing both.

In 1998 at age 19, Sautner jumped into the world of duathlons — running and biking — and triathlons, which includes running, biking and swimming. The multi-sports added so much to his life that he began spreading his fever.

Last year he created the Springtown Sprint Duathlon in New Paltz, a race consisting of a 2.5-mile run, a 12-mile bike ride and another 2.5-mile run. This triathlete and coach feels the distances are reasonable for both newcomers and veteran duathletes.

"The average person can say, 'I can do this,' " Sautner said. "It's on a feasible scale where it doesn't require an enormous amount of commitment to training."

For more seasoned multi-sport athletes, the event can serve as sprint training. According to Sautner, many sprint triathlons use these distances.

This year's event is unique because it's a three-race series. Sautner added two races to allow athletes to measure their success over the course of the three races.

"We felt like it was a great opportunity for athletes to benchmark their training," Sautner said. "It's a consistent course, consistent weather and, therefore, a very measurable way to steer your training."

Although the first race was in June, there's still time to participate in the second and third. Race No. 2 is at 8 a.m. Sunday, and the final race is Aug. 26. You don't have to compete in all three events. However, doing so qualifies athletes for an overall three-race award.

Sautner hopes this event will encourage local one-sport athletes to open up to other sports. He's extremely passionate about getting multi-sports — which he says have grown exponentially over the past five years — to take root in this area. New Paltz, he believes, is the perfect place to start.

"The New Paltz area, and Ulster County in general, has pleasant roads that are mostly bike- and runner-friendly," he said. "There is so much to see and so much ground to cover here."

For runners or bikers who are hesitant to combine the sports, Sautner offered encouragement. "It opens up so much of life," he said. "Why cut off the rest of the athletic world?"

For information on Sautner and the race, visit gregsautner.com or gregsautner.com/springtownduathlon.html.